Lightweight, small, combined gas and steam motor

ABSTRACT

A lightweight, relatively small power plant for motor vehicles combines a steam engine and a combustion gas jet engine, the boiler of the steam engine being within the combustion gas chamber for heating by the flame therein. A single housing contains a single rotor with steam turbine vanes on one side and gas jet vanes on the other side. The flame is ignited from a pressurized fuel and air burner, supplied with fuel and air from pressure tanks maintained at about 1,000 p.s.i. and, while heating the boiler, is introduced into the pressure chamber to drive a power shaft. Upon build-up of steam, the steam is also introduced into the pressure chamber to supplement, or supplant, the gas flame. The liquid is pre-heated in jackets around the flame and in a condenser.

United States Patent [1 1 Migneault 1 Feb. 18, 1975 1 1 LIGHTWEIGHT,SMALL, COMBINED GAS AND STEAM MOTOR [76] Inventor: Maurice Migneault, 69Bowers St..

152] U.S. C1 60/39.]9, 60/3905, 60/3918 B,

60/3958 [51] Int. Cl. FOZC 1/00 [58] Field of Search 60/3919, 39.18 B,39.33,

Primary E.raminerCar1ton R. Croyle Assistant ExaminerO. T. SessionsAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Pearson & Pearson [57] ABSTRACT A lightweight,relatively small power plant for motor vehicles combines a steam engineand a combustion gas jet engine, the boiler of the steam engine beingwithin the combustion gas chamber for heating by the flame therein. Asingle housing contains a single rotor with steam turbine vanes on oneside and gas jet vanes on the other side. The flame is ignited from apressurized fuel and air burner, supplied with fuel and air frompressure tanks maintained at about 1,000 p.s.i. and, while heating theboiler, is introduced into the pressure chamber to drive a power shaft.Upon buildup of steam, the steam is also introduced into the pressurechamber to supplement, or supplant, the gas flame. The liquid ispre-heated in jackets around the flame and in a condenser.

16 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 866,41 2

SHEET 10F 4 CONTROL PATENTED 83975 3,866,412 SHEET H 0F 4- 9 L m, J

1 LIGHTWEIGHT, SMALL, COMBINED GAS AND STEAM MOTOR BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION It has heretofore been proposed, as mentioned in MarksStandard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers, 7th edition, McGraw-HillBook Company. Chapter 9, pages 154 to 157, to provide a combined steamand gas turbine using the gas turbine to supply pre-heated combustionair to the boiler.

Exemplary of such systems are U.S. Pats. Nos. to Miller, 2,678,531 and2,678,532, both of May l8, I954, wherein a separate gas jet turbine hasthe exhaust gases therefrom guided to an unfired boiler, the steam fromthe boiler being introduced into the combustion chamber and mixed withthe combustion gases which drive the gas turbine. These patents teachthat the steam be combined with the combustion gases in the samecombustion chamber to cool the combustion gases prior to introductioninto the turbine. The steam is added to the air at the combustor inletand is at about 77.7 p.s.i.a. when it flows into the combustor formixing therein.

Another combined gas turbine, steam turbine system is disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 3,385,565 to Aguet of Aug. 15, I967, wherein a combustionchamber for pressurized gas and air includes a super heater, the steamfrom the super heater driving a separate steam turbine, the combustiongases driving a separate gas turbine, and the exhaust gas from the gasturbine pre-heating the liguid. Aguet introduces steam into thecombustion chamber in two positions, one centrally thereof and the otherat the exit end therof, and both fed from the expanded steam exitingfrom the steam turbine. As in the above mentioned Miller patent, thesteam is introduced into the combustion chamber for cooling thecombustion gases so that less air is needed and less power loss incompressing air is attained. The corrosion hazards of introducing steaminto a combustion chamber are mentioned in the Aguet patent.

Another patent teaching the injection of steam into a gas combustionchamber is U.S. Pat. No. 3,359,723 to Bohensky of Dec. 23, 1967, thechamber being cooled and the hot gases quenched with steam to reduce theamount of compressed air needed. Bohensky also mentions corrosionproblems occurring with this type construction and method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In this invention, the boiler is containedwithin the combustion chamber and combustion is attained by the ignitionof pressurized fuel and pressurized air, both supplied by suitablepressure tanks and pumps. A suitable liquid, such as water, is conductedthrough preheat jackets coiled around the combustion gas flame in thecombustion chamber, through double-walled jackets around the combustionchamber, and through a multiplicity of tubes in a condenser, thecondenser having a baffled tank, pump, shower and supplementary burnerfor preventing freeze-up.

The combustion gas jet flame is directed into the pressure chamber of amotor to drive the same, while steam builds up to a predetermined head,whereupon steam is also directed into a pressure chamber of the motor todrive the same. There is no mixing of steam and combustion gases in thecombustion chamber, as in the prior art, but, instead, such mixing takesplace beyond the inlet of the pressure chamber, all of the parts thereofbeing of stainless steel, or the equivalent, to avoid corrosion.

In one embodiment, the steam and combustion gases are conducted into thecylinders of a reciprocating piston-type engine, pressure being at about800 psi. to drive the engine.

In the preferred embodiment, a single turbine housing is provided with asingle turbine rotor therin mounted on a power shaft, one side of therotor having steam turbine vanes and the other side having gas jetvanes. The combustion chamber is mounted alongside the gas jet vane sideof the housing with an elongated nozzle connecting therewith, the nozzlehaving a valve controlled gate therein with steam jet orifices in theedge thereof.

In operation, the gas jets first turn the rotor, the startup being bypressurized air and fuel at about 1,000 p.s.i., so that manual rotationor rotation by external power is not required while steam builds up.Then steam is emitted through steam jet orifices against the steam vanesof the rotor, and then steam is emitted from the jet orifices in thegate to drive the gas jet side of the rotor. Once sufficient steam isbuilt up, the gas flame is automatically lowered to permit the motivepower to come from the steam, thereby reducing air pollution, noise andexpenditure of fuel.

BRIEF DESCPRITION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an end elevation of thecombined steam and combustion gas motor of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the motor of FIG. 1, with parts brokenaway for clarity;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, perspective view with parts broken away of thecondenser of the motor of the invention, showing the pre-heat tubing,auxilliary burner and pump;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, on a reduced scale, showing theturbine and condenser of the invention assembled;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing the combined steam andcombustion gas motor of the invention driving a reciprocatingpiston-type engine;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing thecombustion gas burner of the invention and the pre-heat coiltherearound;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the combustionchamber of the invention with the boiler means therein;

FIG. 8 is a plan view, in section on line 8-8 of FIG. 7, showing thepre-heat jacketing;

FIG. 9 is a plan view on line 9-9 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is a detailed, perspective view of the steam emitting retaininggate, which is pivotally mounted in the nozzle of the combustionchamber.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4,the combined gas and steam motor 20 of the invention preferably includesa single housing 21 in which a single vaned rotor 22 revolves, the rotor22 being fast on a power shaft 23 for driving a motor vehicle or thelike. While the steam turbine 24 could be separate from the gas turbine25, one of the objects of the invention is to produce a lightweight,small, inexpensive motor and it is therefore preferred to use a singlerotor and rotor housing.

The rotor 22 divides the housing 21 into a steam pressure chamber 26,with steam turbine blades, or vanes, 27 on one face 28 of the rotor toform steam turbine 24, and a gas jet pressure chamber 29, with gas jetturbine blades, or vanes, 31 on the other face 32 of the rotor to formgas jet turbine 25.

A combustion chamber 33, shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8, is preferablymounted alongside the gas turbine chamber 29 of housing 21 and connectedthereto by the second conduit means 34 which terminates in the elongatedslot nozzle, or orifice, 35 for introducing combustion gas flame intopressure chamber 29 for driving gas jet vanes 31.

Ignition means 36 includes a suitable spark device 37, such as a sparkplug or the pair of electrodes 38 and 39 shown in FIG. 6, positioned inthe path of the influent pressurized fuel and air mixture. The gas fuel41, which may be gasoline or any other desired fuel such as kerosene orthe like, is contained in a pressure tank 42, and is pressurized by apump motor 43 which may be electric or may be driven by shaft 23, and asuitable fuel pump 44, whereby pressure in tank 42 is normally aboutl,000 p.s.i. Similarly, air 45 is pressurized in a tank 46 by an airpump 47 and motor 48, which also may be electric or the pump may bedriven by shaft 23, whereby pressure in air tank 46 is also at about1,000

p.s.i.

The fuel supply means described above is designated 49 and the airsupply means described above is designated 51.

As shown in FIG. 6, the fuel 41, pressurized at 1,000 p.s.i., isdelivered through tube 52 past throttle valve 124 into the passage 54,and the air 45, pressurized at 1,000 p.s.i., is delivered through tube55 and valve 125 within passage 54, the fuel and air mixture 56 passingthrough the burner tube 57, around the cone 58 in an annular spray, andpast slotted diffuser plate 59 to form an ignited pressurized annularcone flame 61.

As best shown in FIGS. 7 through 10, the slotted nozzle 35 includes apressure retaining gate 62, which is pivoted at 63 to open and close thenozzle 35, gate 62 being tapered and terminating in a relatively sharpfree terminal edge, or downstream edge, 64. An integral arm 65 (FIG. 9)permits tension adjustment by means of coil spring 66 and the rotatabletension rod 67, turning of the rod 67 in its seat 68 by its handle 69increasing or decreasing spring tension. A cylinder 71 and reciprocablepiston head 72 and piston rod 73 is operable on arm 65, the tip 74thereof being normally out of contact therewith and held in non-contactposition by air pressure at 1,000 p.s.i. in line 80 from air supplymeans 51.

A spring 146 in cylinder 71 urges the tip 74 outwardlyat about 800p.s.i. so that, if air pressure falls below 600-700 p.s.i. in air line147 of air supply means 51, the spring 146 will open the gate .62 toprovide a pressure relief outlet.

The coil spring 66 through the leverage of arm 65 exerts a pull of about750 p.s.i. to keep gate 62 closed, unless pressure builds up in chamber29 to 800 p.s.i. or more, or unless lack of air pressure causes spring146 to override spring 66 and open the gate.

In normal operation, the pressurized flame 61 will build up gas pressurein chamber 29 to overcome spring 66 and open gate 62 to the positionshown in FIGS. 8 and 9 at about 800 p.s.i., with hot combustion gasesfree to pass through nozzle 35 and drive the vanes 31.

Mechanically actuated throttle valve 124 and 125 control supply of fueland air by means of the linkage 149, gear rack means 151, and throttlerod 152 to an accelerator pedal not shown.

The control means 121, through control box 137, will override themechanical throttle if pressure in the combustion chamber rises to above850 p.s.i., or if temperature rises unduly as sensed by guages 138 or139 and will automatically close shut-off valves 124 and 125 in the fueland air supply systems.

Boiler means 75 is located within the combustion chamber 33 in the formof a plurality of coiled, flash boiler tubes 76, in the path of theflame 61 to be heated thereby. Boiler means 75 is supplied with a steamgenerating liquid 93, which may be water, with a suitable anti-freezetherein, or any other desirable liquid. The liquid 93 is pre-heated in acoil 78 encircling the flame 61 within combustion chamber 33 and in thejacket 79 formed between the double walls 81 and 82 of the combustionchamber 33. The housing 21 includes an outwardly flared effluent passage83 in which liquid tubes 84 are closely packed for pre-heating theliquid. The spent expanded steam and the exhaust combustion gases aredirected through the condenser means 85, past the liquid containingpre-heat tubes 86, then successively over and under the vertical baffles87, 88, 89 and 91, which guide the steam down below the level 92 of theliquid 93 in the tank 94, thereby condensing the steam and washingforeign particles or other polluting matter from the gases. The liquidtubes 86 are connected to the liquid tubes 95 below liquid level 92 intank 94 for pre-heating the liquid.

Radiator means 96, with a suitable mesh, or grill, 97, may be provided,the liquid 93 circulated by heat convection between tank 94 and meshedgrill 97 by suitable pipes indicated diagrammatically at 99. A portionof the exhaust, or tail pipe, is designated 98. The liquid 93 issupplied into the tubes 76, 84 and 95 and into the pre-heat coils andjackets from inlet 101, through high pressure pump 102 at about 800p.s.i., and preferably a pump 104 also supplies liquid to a shower 105in the upper portion of tank 94 to assist in condensing the steam.

A separate fuel burner means 106 is provided within an enclosure 107under the tank 94 of the condenser means 85 for use in cold weather toassure that the liquid 93 does not freeze in the tank 94.

The boiler means 75 is connected by first conduit means 108, in the formof a plurality of tubes 109 to a plurality of steam jet orifices 110arranged to drive the steam vanes 27 in the steam pressure chamber 26 ofhousing 21.

In addition, third conduit means 111 is provided to connect boiler means75 through the hollow pivot rod 112 to a plurality of steam jet orifices113 in the sharp tapered terminal edge 64 of the pressure retaining gate62 on the combustion chamber side of the rotor.'The steam is thusintroduced directly against the vanes within the pressure chamber 29,rather than being mixed with the combustion gases in advance of thepressure chamber as in the prior art. When steam has built up to apredetermined head within boiler means 75, such as about 800 p.s.i.,steam is not only jetted against the steam turbine vanes 27 in steampressure chamber 26, but is also jetted against the gas turbine vanes 31in gas pressure chamber 29 through the orifices 113 in the gate 62. Atthis stage, the fuel and air supply to the burner 57 is reduced topermit the motor to run mainly on steam, thereby reducing pollutionwhile economizing on fuel consumption.

Preferably, the fuel pump motor 43 and air pump motor 48 are steamoperated engines which are supplied with steam by pipes such as at 114to motor 48, and pipe 115 to motor 43 leading from the jacket 79. Motor43 also drives a liquid pump 116 which circulates liquid from the jacket117 around housing 21 through pipe 118 to the coiled tube 84 in thepassage 83. The air pump 47 is a first stage supplemented by a secondstage pump 119, also driven by motor 48.

Valve control means 121 is provided, including a control box 137,solenoid valves 122 and 123, and temperature guages 138, pressure guages139 and a suitable electric circuit for actuating the valves to operatethe engine as described below. The free terminal edge of each blade, orvane, 27 or 31 includes an enlarged bead 126 and the blades 31 arealternately long and short and generally radial, as at 127 and 128, witha peripheral vane 129, angularly disposed to the radial direction of theshort vanes at the outer ends thereof. A two-way valve 131 controls thepump motor 43, and a similar valve 132 controls the air motor 48.

In operation, the motor 20 is started by pressing a start switch 133 incircuit 134, having a battery 135 and the electrodes 38 and 39 therein,to ignite the flame 61. From the last time used, the fuel tank 42 andthe air tank 46 will be pressurized at about 1,000 p.s.i., so thatopening throttle valves 124 and 125 will cause the fuel mixture to jetout in a cone from burner 57 to create the hot combustion gas flame 61in the combustion chamber 33. The pressure in chamber 33 will rise toabout 800 p.s.i., the liquid 93 in the system being initially cold, andthrough the flash boiler means 75, and the pre-heaters commencing toheat up. 'The solenoid actuated steam valves 122 for the gas side of therotor and the solenoid actuated steam valves 136 on the steam side ofthe rotor remain closed, while the gate 62 is open, and while the flame61 drives the rotor 22 to provide initial power. In a period of l or 2minutes, steam pressure builds up to a predetermined head sufficient torun the fuel pump and the air pump and to commence to jet out of theorifices in the edge of the gate to supplement the flame 61 in drivingthe rotor. At a still higher head of steam, such as about 800 p.s.i.,the solenoid valves 136 open to cause steam to jet out of the orificeson the steam side of the rotor to give more power. If the throttle isclosed, the combustion level of flame 61 is lowered and the steamsolenoid valves will close because steam pressure is reduced. Uponopening the throttle, the combustion gas flame and power will increasefirst, with the steam pressure increasing more slowly.

The principle of the invention, as shown in FIG. 5, may be applied to areciprocating engine 140, having cylinders 141 and pistons 142, drivinga power shaft 23, the combustion gas flame or jet 61 being introducedinto the cylinders as at 143 from the combustion chamber 33, and thesteam being introduced into the cylinders as at 144 from the boilermeans 75. Thus, the steam does not corrode the combustion chamber and ismixed with the gas jet only in the cylinders, which are of stainlesssteel to prevent corrosion. The combustion gases at 800 p.s.i., whenapplied to the three-inch diameter piston heads, exert about 7,200pounds pressure on each piston, and the push is steady and uniform allthe way down, rather than being explosive and temporary as in aninternal combustion engine.

The pistons 142 constitute moving parts of a combined gas and steammotor in that they are movable by either steam, or gas, or by both.

I claim:

1. A lightweight, mobile combined gas and steam motor for vehicles,comprising:

a steam turbine and a gas jet turbine both included in a single housing,having a single vaned rotor fast on a power shaft, for driving saidshaft;

said single rotor having steam turbine vanes on one side to form a steamturbine chamber and having gas jet vanes on the other side to form a gasjet turbine chamber in said single housing;

a combustion chamber having ignition means therein and having boilermeans therein;

fuel supply means and air supply means, each including a pressure tanksupplying start-up pressure, said means connected to said combustionchamber for producing hot combustion gases therein while heating saidboiler means to produce steam;

first conduit means connecting said boiler means to said steam turbine,said means including valved jet orifices for directing steam onto thesaid steam turbine vanes of said rotor;

second conduit means connecting said combustion chamber to saidcombustion gas jet turbine, said means including a valved slot orificefor directing a jet of said combustion gas against the gas jet turbinevanes of said rotor;

third conduit means connecting said boiler means to said combustion gasjet turbine, said means including valved jet orifices within saidcombustion gas pressure chamber for directing steam against the gas jetturbine vanes of said rotor; and

valve control means for initially opening only said valved gas slotorifice, while steam builds up, then opening said valved steam jetorifice to drive, at a predetermined head of steam, said steam rotorvanes, and then opening said valved jet orifices of said third conduitmeans to drive said gas rotor vanes while reducing the generation ofsaid combustion gas while said predetermined head of steam ismaintained.

2. A motor as specified in claim 1, wherein:

said combustion chamber is mounted alongside the gas turbine chamber ofsaid single housing and is connected thereto by said valved slot orificeof said second conduit means; and

said chamber includes an elongated gate, pivotally mounted, to open andclose said valved slot oriface, to emit or retain said combustion gas.

3. An engine as specified in claim 2, wherein:

said elongated gate is of tapered configuration, terminating in arelatively sharp downstream edge, and the steam jet orifices of saidthird conduit means are in said leading edge.

4. An engine as specified in claim 1, wherein:

said housing includes double walls around said combustion chamberforming a water jacket for preheating the water in said boiler means.

5. An engine as specified in claim 1, wherein:

said fuel supply means and said air supply means each include a pressuretank adapted to maintain said fuel and air at about 1,000 p.s.i.,whereby said fuel and air are introduced into said combustion chamberfor ignition at said pressure.

6. An engine as specified in claim 1, wherein:

said combustion chamber includes a cone-shaped burner, having a slotteddiffuser plate at the free terminal end thereof for emitting an annularstream of combined fuel and air for forming an annular flame; and

said combustion chamber includes a helically configured coil of watertubing encircling said annular flame, for pre-heating the water in saidboiler means.

7. An engine as specified in claim 1, wherein:

said housing includes an outwardly-flared effluent passage leadingtangentially from both the steam turbine chamber and the gas jet turbinechamber of said housing for expansion of said steam, said flared passagehaving a plurality of steam pipes therein for absorbing waste heattopre-heat the water in said boiler means.

8. An engine as specified in claim 1, plus:

condenser means operatively connected to said housing for receiving thespent steam from said steam turbine chamber and the spent products ofcombustion from said jet turbine chamber, said condenser means includinga liquid coolant tank having a series of spaced dependent bafflesrequiring said steam and products to repeatedly pass therebelow andunder the level of the coolant, in order to reach the discharge end ofsaid condenser means.

9. An engine as specified in claim 8, plus:

a plurality of elongated, closely packed, coiled tubes mounted in saidcondenser means in the path of said steam and products of combustion,said tubes being connected to said boiler means to pre-heat the watertherein from the heat of condensation.

10. An engine as specified in claim 8, plus:

separate fuel burner means in said condenser means arranged to heat thecoolant therein when said engine is not in operation, to preventfreezing of the liquid in the system.

11. An engine as specified in claim 8, plus:

electric motor and pump means in said condenser means connecting thesump of said liquid coolant tank to a perforated shower pipe in theupper portion of said tank for showering said steam to convert it to aliquid.

12. An engine as specified in claim 1, wherein:

the vanes on said rotor each extend generally radially thereof in theouter peripheral portion only and each vane includes an enlarged beadalong its free terminal edge, that edge being the outer edge and closestto said orifices. 13. An engine as specified in claim 1, wherein: eachsaid vane on said rotor includes an enlarged head on its outer edge, andsaid vanes include a first set of alternately long and short radiallyextending blades and a second set of blades angularly disposed to theradii of said rotor at the end of said short blades, for interceptingthe flow of fluid along and between said first set of blades.

14. A combined mobile gas and steam motor for vehicles comprising:

a single housing containing a single vaned turbine rotor journalled forrotation therein on a power shaft;

said rotor dividing said housing into a steam engine and steam turbinechamber on one side and a gas engine and gas jet chamber on the otherside, said engines jointly driving said shaft;

a combustion chamber in said motor having ignition means therein andhaving boiler means therein; pressurized gas fuel supply means andpressurized air supply means, each including pressure tanks at about1,000 p.s.i., connected to said combustion chamber for initiallyproducing combustion gases therein to supply said gas engine withpressurized gas at 1,000 psi. while heating said boiler means to producesteam;

first conduit means connecting said boiler means to said steam enginefor driving said shaft;

second conduit means connecting said combustion chamber to said gasengine for driving said shaft; and

valve control means for initially introducing ignited combustion gasesinto said motor, under pressure from said tanks, for moving said partswhile steam buildsup in said boiler means and then introducing steam, ata predetermined head, into said motor with said gases for also movingsaid parts.

15. A combined gas and steam motor as specified in claim 14, plus:

third conduit means connecting said boiler means to said gas jet chamberfor introducing steam thereinto for driving the gas jet side of saidvaned rotor.

16. A combined gas and steam motor as specified in claim 14, wherein:

said combustion chamber is mounted alongside said gas jet turbine sideof said rotor and connected thereto by an elongated, slotted nozzleorifice having a pivoted gate therein for opening and closing saidorifice.

1. A lightweight, mobile combined gas and steam motor for vehicles,comprising: a steam turbine and a gas jet turbine both included in asingle housing, having a single vaned rotor fast on a power shaft, fordriving said shaft; said single rotor having steam turbine vanes on oneside to form a steam turbine chamber and having gas jet vanes on theother side to form a gas jet turbine chamber in said single housing; acombustion chamber having ignition means therein and having boiler meanstherein; fuel supply means and air supply means, each including apressure tank supplying start-up pressure, said means connected to saidcombustion chamber for producing hot combustion gases therein whileheating said boiler means to produce steam; first conduit meansconnecting said boiler means to said steam turbine, said means includingvalved jet orifices for directing steam onto the said steam turbinevanes of said rotor; second conduit means connecting said combustionchamber to said combustion gas jet turbine, said means including avalved slot orifice for directing a jet of said combustion gas againstthe gas jet turbine vanes of said rotor; third conduit means connectingsaid boiler means to said combustion gas jet turbine, said meansincluding valved jet orifices within said combustion gas pressurechaMber for directing steam against the gas jet turbine vanes of saidrotor; and valve control means for initially opening only said valvedgas slot orifice, while steam builds up, then opening said valved steamjet orifice to drive, at a predetermined head of steam, said steam rotorvanes, and then opening said valved jet orifices of said third conduitmeans to drive said gas rotor vanes while reducing the generation ofsaid combustion gas while said predetermined head of steam ismaintained.
 2. A motor as specified in claim 1, wherein: said combustionchamber is mounted alongside the gas turbine chamber of said singlehousing and is connected thereto by said valved slot orifice of saidsecond conduit means; and said chamber includes an elongated gate,pivotally mounted, to open and close said valved slot oriface, to emitor retain said combustion gas.
 3. An engine as specified in claim 2,wherein: said elongated gate is of tapered configuration, terminating ina relatively sharp downstream edge, and the steam jet orifices of saidthird conduit means are in said leading edge.
 4. An engine as specifiedin claim 1, wherein: said housing includes double walls around saidcombustion chamber forming a water jacket for pre-heating the water insaid boiler means.
 5. An engine as specified in claim 1, wherein: saidfuel supply means and said air supply means each include a pressure tankadapted to maintain said fuel and air at about 1, 000 p.s.i., wherebysaid fuel and air are introduced into said combustion chamber forignition at said pressure.
 6. An engine as specified in claim 1,wherein: said combustion chamber includes a cone-shaped burner, having aslotted diffuser plate at the free terminal end thereof for emitting anannular stream of combined fuel and air for forming an annular flame;and said combustion chamber includes a helically configured coil ofwater tubing encircling said annular flame, for pre-heating the water insaid boiler means.
 7. An engine as specified in claim 1, wherein: saidhousing includes an outwardly-flared effluent passage leadingtangentially from both the steam turbine chamber and the gas jet turbinechamber of said housing for expansion of said steam, said flared passagehaving a plurality of steam pipes therein for absorbing waste heat topre-heat the water in said boiler means.
 8. An engine as specified inclaim 1, plus: condenser means operatively connected to said housing forreceiving the spent steam from said steam turbine chamber and the spentproducts of combustion from said jet turbine chamber, said condensermeans including a liquid coolant tank having a series of spaceddependent baffles requiring said steam and products to repeatedly passtherebelow and under the level of the coolant, in order to reach thedischarge end of said condenser means.
 9. An engine as specified inclaim 8, plus: a plurality of elongated, closely packed, coiled tubesmounted in said condenser means in the path of said steam and productsof combustion, said tubes being connected to said boiler means topre-heat the water therein from the heat of condensation.
 10. An engineas specified in claim 8, plus: separate fuel burner means in saidcondenser means arranged to heat the coolant therein when said engine isnot in operation, to prevent freezing of the liquid in the system. 11.An engine as specified in claim 8, plus: electric motor and pump meansin said condenser means connecting the sump of said liquid coolant tankto a perforated shower pipe in the upper portion of said tank forshowering said steam to convert it to a liquid.
 12. An engine asspecified in claim 1, wherein: the vanes on said rotor each extendgenerally radially thereof in the outer peripheral portion only and eachvane includes an enlarged bead along its free terminal edge, that edgebeing the outer edge and closest to said orifices.
 13. An engine asspecified in claim 1, wherein: each said vane on said rotor includes anenlarged bead on its outer edge, and said vanes include a first set ofalternately long and short radially extending blades and a second set ofblades angularly disposed to the radii of said rotor at the end of saidshort blades, for intercepting the flow of fluid along and between saidfirst set of blades.
 14. A combined mobile gas and steam motor forvehicles comprising: a single housing containing a single vaned turbinerotor journalled for rotation therein on a power shaft; said rotordividing said housing into a steam engine and steam turbine chamber onone side and a gas engine and gas jet chamber on the other side, saidengines jointly driving said shaft; a combustion chamber in said motorhaving ignition means therein and having boiler means therein;pressurized gas fuel supply means and pressurized air supply means, eachincluding pressure tanks at about 1,000 p.s.i., connected to saidcombustion chamber for initially producing combustion gases therein tosupply said gas engine with pressurized gas at 1,000 p.s.i. whileheating said boiler means to produce steam; first conduit meansconnecting said boiler means to said steam engine for driving saidshaft; second conduit means connecting said combustion chamber to saidgas engine for driving said shaft; and valve control means for initiallyintroducing ignited combustion gases into said motor, under pressurefrom said tanks, for moving said parts while steam builds up in saidboiler means and then introducing steam, at a predetermined head, intosaid motor with said gases for also moving said parts.
 15. A combinedgas and steam motor as specified in claim 14, plus: third conduit meansconnecting said boiler means to said gas jet chamber for introducingsteam thereinto for driving the gas jet side of said vaned rotor.
 16. Acombined gas and steam motor as specified in claim 14, wherein: saidcombustion chamber is mounted alongside said gas jet turbine side ofsaid rotor and connected thereto by an elongated, slotted nozzle orificehaving a pivoted gate therein for opening and closing said orifice.